Despite its name and appearance, the tricolored blackbird is not related to the common blackbird.

Action timeline

April 9, 2004 – The Center submitted an emergency petition to list the tricolored blackbird as endangered under the federal and California Endangered Species Act, also requesting immediate action to prohibit or delay harvesting and plowing activities on private lands used by tricolors during the nesting season. Both the California Fish and Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service neglected to list the species on an emergency basis, but agreed to review the listing petition on a regular timeline.

2005 – After the Service failed to conduct a legally required initial scientific review of the 2004 petition, the Center sent the Service a 60-day notice of intent to sue.

February 13, 2006 – After the Service failed to respond to the notice of intent, the Center sued the Service. It had been 16 months since the initial petition review should have been completed.

December 5, 2006 – Having finally reviewed the Center’s petition, the Service announced that it did not present substantial information to warrant protecting the tricolor.

October 8, 2014 – The Center submitted an emergency petition to list the tricolored blackbird as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act, also requesting immediate action to prohibit or delay harvesting and plowing activities on private lands used by tricolors during the nesting season.